Here’s a brief conversation between me and my colleague Gary Tulie in Buckinghamshire, England (pictured) that I hope readers find interesting. Gary has been a huge supporter of 2GreenEnergy since its launch 16 years ago, and contributed an entire chapter to my fourth book on environmental sustainability: “Bullish on Renewable Energy.”

Gary:

I think Trump is going to encounter serious problems with his tariffs. Fair enough to use sanctions and tariffs on a rogue regime to encourage them to respect human rights and international law, but impose tariffs on everyone?  As the US found out last time, they first reciprocate, then do business with each other rather than the US.  And in the case of Canada, the people are so angry they are actively boycotting US products and choosing not to visit the US.

Europe meanwhile is increasingly seeing the US as an unreliable ally and whilst Europe is increasing defense spending in view of the Russian threat, they are now far more likely to buy European equipment rather than typically more expensive US equipment which often is no better than the European equivalents. Tariffs in short will likely significantly reduce the US share of international business, drive trading partners to set up protocols that do not use the US dollar (making US borrowing more expensive) and simultaneously creating abrupt interruptions to US aid which admittedly needs an audit to ensure effectiveness.  This weakens US soft power giving an opening for China, India, the EU etc. to become relatively more influential.

As I read recently there is a fundamental difference in mentality. US emphasises freedom to whereas Europe emphasises freedom from e.g. freedom from fear of guns, freedom from being exposed to hate speech, untested chemicals etc.

Craig:

Makes sense. One (just one) of Trump’s ugliest characteristics is his complete lack of self-awareness and interest in listening to others.

This “freedom to/freedom from” duality has not hurt us too much until now, with Trump in the mix.

Gary:

Pretty sure some of the things that Trump has said would have got him in hot water this side of the Atlantic – slander, libel, hate speech and the like resulting in civil court cases, injunctions, and very possibly criminal cases which would have been heard promptly without fear or favour by an independent judiciary not beholden to any political party, and which is expected to display political neutrality interpreting written and case law to decide cases.

Craig:

Yes, that’s the scariest part of Trump; he seems to have avoiding being held accountable for outright criminal behavior, and I’m sure that wouldn’t fly in your part of the world.

Gary:

I believe he was quite shocked in I think it was The Netherlands to be asked some very searching direct questions with zero deference. Similar happened with the BBC when he tried refusing to answer a BBC reporter’s questions expecting the deference he has come to expect in the US, and all the other European journalists refused to ask any further questions.

Trump, Tariffs, and U.S. Allies